A round-up of today's other Irish news stories in brief
Poisoning of golden eagle chick condemned
Birdwatch Ireland and the Heritage Council have condemned the poisoning death of a 10-month old golden eagle chick, Conall, who was one of the first wild golden eagles to be hatched on the island for more than a century, writes Lorna Siggins.
Both bodies have urged relevant State agencies, farming organisations and the farming media, to “renew their energies” in raising awareness among farmers about the wider implications of illegal use of poisoned carcasses.
Birdwatch Ireland said it was illegal under the Animal By-Product Regulations to knowingly leave dead livestock above ground. Under certain conditions, poisoned meat baits can be left out, but not carcasses. The organisation is seeking a complete ban on use of poisoned meat baits.
The organisation’s head of conservation Alan Lauder said most farmers controlled pests in an “environmentally friendly way”, but a “small number” were continuing to bring farming into disrepute, damaging wildlife and ultimately threatening tourism and farm incomes.
Two infants die in separate incidents
Two infants have died in the southeast in recent days in separate incidents.
Gardaí in Waterford have been investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a boy at a house following an apparent fall in Waterford city in recent days.
The infant, who was due to celebrate his second birthday on March 16th, was taken to Waterford Regional Hospital and was then taken to Temple St Children’s hospital, but died there over the weekend. He said the death was not suspicious, and the injuries were consistent with a fall.
Meanwhile, a village remained in mourning yesterday days after a 14-month-old baby girl died after becoming entangled in the cord of a roller blind at her Co Kilkenny home.
Ahern publishes de Chastelain report
The Minister for Justice has published the latest report by the decommissioning body headed by Gen John de Chastelain, writes Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor.
The report, issued to the British and Irish governments last week, details the decommissioning of weapons overseen by the body since last September.
Referring to the destruction of weapons by loyalist groups and the INLA, Dermot Ahern said: “These acts of decommissioning of course mean fewer weapons out there to harm Irish men and women, but they also show the confidence that now exists in the progress of the peace process.”
Discussions will be scheduled with Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward about what the Department of Justice calls arrangements for the finalisation of the work of the commission and the submission of a final report, reflecting its activities and experience over the last 12 years, to the governments.
Woodward warns of price of failure
Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward has told a Westminster committee the public would not easily forgive politicians if the Stormont institutions fell over the transfer of justice powers, writes Dan Keenan.
“This is the final part of a process that began 12 years ago,” he said. “There are many lessons that have been learned, and many mistakes have been made. It is not a prerogative of any one political party to make mistakes. All parties and that includes the governments have made mistakes.”
Speaking in advance of next Tuesday’s vote to select a justice minister, Mr Woodward warned the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee it was the most important vote since the Assembly was restored. “If the vote were not to succeed next Tuesday then £800 million of additional money which the prime minister has made available for a new justice department would not be available.”
Border will no longer protect parking fine and toll evaders
New rules on the pursuit of out-of-State toll and parking fine evaders which came into effect yesterday will allow authorities either side of the Border to effectively backdate prosecutions, writes Tim O'Brien.
The new rules which apply to Northern-registered cars being used in the South, and vice-versa, will from yesterday give motorists 28 days in which to pay fines.
After this date, driver details will be passed between authorities North and South to enable prosecutions in the courts.
Both jurisdictions already have a reciprocal agreement in place between the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Northern Ireland, and the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) in the South, to exchange information on abandoned and untaxed vehicles.
But from yesterday this co-operation has been extended – on a pilot basis until November – to cover parking fines and unpaid toll charges either side of the Border.
Motorists will have 28 days to pay a fine.
After this period has elapsed prosecuting authorities can apply to their opposite numbers for driver and vehicle details.
New parliamentary party chair for FG
Galway West TD Padraic McCormack is the new chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, having won by one vote.
Mr McCormack defeated current chair, Tom Hayes of Tipperary South, and Senator Joe McHugh of Donegal to secure the position.
Although five candidates declared their interest, two, Noel Coonan TD and Senator Paul Bradford, withdrew.
Mr McCormack is vice-chairman of the Joint Committee on Environment and Local Government.
Elderly man dies in fire at home
An elderly man died in a fire at his home in Co Clare yesterday just days after being released from hospital.
Michael O’Boyle (86), a widower, Seaview Park, Quilty, was last seen at about midnight on Tuesday.
The alarm was raised at about 10am yesterday when a home help could not gain access to the house.
It is understood Mr O’Boyle was due to call to his niece’s home nearby to receive his daily medication. Concerns were raised after he failed to make that appointment.
Man gets jail term for robbing pensioner
A man has been sentenced to six years in jail after he admitted attacking and robbing a 76-year-old woman on her way home from Mass.
John Arundel, a father of two, Rock Cottages, Blackpool, Cork, pleaded guilty to the robbery of the woman on Thomas Davis Street in Blackpool, as she walked home from 10am Mass on October 26th last.
Det Garda Niall O’Connell told Cork Circuit Criminal Court that Arundel had followed the woman for about 100 yards before grabbing her from behind.
She told gardaí that Arundel had thrown her around like “a rag doll” and that she feared that she was going to suffer injury when she was flung on to the pavement.
She escaped serious injury and suffered bruising but the attack had a traumatic effect on her. She was still very frightened as a result, Det Garda O’Connell added.
He said that Arundel had 21 previous convictions including one for manslaughter from 1999.
Judge Patrick Moran said that Arundel had been looking for money to feed his drug habit and he had subjected his victim to a very traumatic experience.
While he accepted he had apologised, the woman was entitled to go to Mass without fear of being robbed, the judge said.